STOCKTON - Police have arrested the driver of a car that smashed into a power pole and burst into flames on New Year's Eve, wounding two young girls who were then rescued by witnesses.

Authorities said Wednesday that the suspect, 23-year-old Andrew Lopez, was racing with a second vehicle when the crash happened just after 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Sonora and Lincoln streets, south of the Crosstown Freeway.

Lopez remained hospitalized Wednesday night and had not yet been booked at the San Joaquin County Jail. Police said Lopez was arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence, child endangerment and traffic-related offenses.

The 8- and 10-year-old girls, meanwhile, whom a witness described as screaming within the Jeep Grand Cherokee while it burned, also remained hospitalized but were described as stable. They had been taken to the UC Davis Regional Burn Center in Sacramento.

Rego said he did not know what the connection was between the driver and the two girls.

Also unclear was the fate of the other vehicle that was involved in the race; Rego said traffic investigators were still looking into what happened.

Police did say Lopez was racing when he lost control of the Jeep and struck the pole. Witnesses reported pulling the driver and the two girls from the car, despite fears that the vehicle would explode.

The driver ran away from the scene but was taken into custody a short distance away.

The ground around the metal pole was charred and blackened on Wednesday, a reminder of what had transpired the night before.

Contact reporter Alex Breitler at (209) 546-8295 or abreitler@recordnet.com. Follow him at recordnet.com/breitlerblog and on Twitter @alexbreitler.